NARUC establishes natural gas access, expansion taskforce

The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) established a new Presidential Natural Gas Access and Expansion Task Force this week, charged with creating best practices and issuing recommendations regarding natural gas service for underserved and unserved areas.

Pennsylvania Commissioner John Coleman and Mississippi Commissioner Brandon Presley were chosen as co-chairs of the task force with North Dakota Commissioner Julie Fedorchak serving as vice-chair.

“I have seen first-hand how expanding natural gas service can lower the cost of living for Mississippians,” Presely said. “It is an honor to help lead this effort to look at ways to grow America’s energy infrastructure and make our nation more energy independent. I thank NARUC President Powelson for this honor.”

Some communities, especially those in rural areas, do not have access to natural gas because of a lack of infrastructure. Instead, these communities rely more expensive fuels such as bottled propane and heating oil.

The main focus of the task force’s eight-month term will be to create an analytical report on natural gas in these communities. The report will analyze current access, relevant policies, the need for access and expansion and barriers to providing natural gas service to these areas. It will also identify opportunities for expansion as well as alternative and unconventional approaches to achieving this expansion. Additionally, it will compile a list of best practices related to natural gas access and expansion in underserved and unserved areas.

The task force will also coordinate with NARUC’s Committee on Gas to help identify opportunities for engagement at NARUC meetings and collaborate with NARUC-affiliated organizations to gather best practices.

Other state commissioners asked to serve on the task force include Ken Anderson (Texas), Stephen Bloom (Oregon), Julie Brown (Florida), Robert Hayden (Massachusetts), Kim O’Guinn (Arkansas), Norman Saari (Michigan), Dianne Solomon (New Jersey), Nick Wagner (Iowa) and Dallas Winslow (Delaware). Three vacant positions remain for NARUC President Robert F. Powelson to fill. The Committee on Gas Chair Stan Wise (Georgia) and co-Vice Chair Diane X. Burman (New York) will serve as active liaisons to the task force.